Fantasy/Science FictionRomanceHistorical FictionSports Mystery YA Book

Reading Lists:

Best Books for Young Adults 2002 is the new list by the American Library Association's
          Young Adult Library Services Association. The 2001 list is here.  The 2000 list is here.
Booklist Editors' Choice '02 presents a list of numerous categories of "best books" of
          2002. The lists are annotated.  The 1999 list is here.
Reading Rants Out of the Ordinary Teen Books

Outstanding Books for the College Bound a list from ALA they consider to be
            "outstanding" for those pursuing formal higher education or for those who just
            wish to be better educated.
Books for the Teenage 2002 is a list prepared from the New York Public Library.
 

Trauma Junkie:  Janice Hudson 
Reviewer:  Lauren M.

Do you like clinchers?  Do you like to read?  If you said yes to either of these questions you will like this book.
The person that wrote this book is the main character and this is like a journal. She tells of the good and
the bad.  She tells of the children and the adults that suffer from severe to minor injuries but most of them are
very severe.  The children were just two and three at the youngest.  The injuries are from car accidents to
drunks.  This book can make you laugh and make you cry. This is one of those books when you start
reading you don't want to stop.  I am not a big reader but this is one of the best books that I have read.
I suggest you read this book.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants:  Ann Brashares 
Reviewer:  Nikia S.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was Ann Brashares's first novel.  I admit at first I was skeptical because
of the child-like title, but my opinion was quickly changed.  The Traveling Pants unite four different girls with four
different body types.  Carmen bought the pants at a secondhand store for $3.40.  When everyone was packing
to set off for their summer adventures, they each tried on the pants.  To their amazement, they fit beautifully on
each of them thought they each were shaped differently. Each girl would wear the pants for a part of the summer
and report how the pants effected their summer.
    The book will make you feel like you have split personalities.  It makes you relate with all the girls. The author
had a fresh taste of words.  She also was very in touch with the new age.  All the girls learn different things, and
you learn along with them.  he great thing about it is; you learn the lesson that they learn without doing the work
and going through the trouble.  I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about everyday life
and the troubles it brings.
The Starlite Drive-in  by:  Marjorie Reynolds
Reviewer:  Darcie A.

"What would you do if you found buried bones in a drive-in movie parking lot?  That is what this mystery book is all about.  The story begins when a skeleton evokes memories of a 1950s summer roiled by forbidden love.  I thought that this book was a wonderful book to read when the reader is getting ready to settle down for the night.  This novel had some unsuspecting events in it that kept me on edge of my seat the whole time.  When I read the first couple of pages, I knew that something was going to happen.  If you enjoy reading a mystery horror book then I recommend this book for you."

Dead Even   by:  Brad Meltzer 
Reviewer:  Amy H.

"Brad Meltzer knows how to write a suspenseful story.  This novel kept me on edge the whole time.  I had to know whether Jared and Sara’s trust would fall apart or hold strong.  ‘Jared is my husband, my whole life, I have no option but to believe in him.’  I was anxious to see how the case would come out.  Would Sara win and be killed, or would Jared win and be killed?  It seems as though this is a lose-lose situation.  I felt stressed by the end of the book, not knowing if it would be a good or awful outcome.  The characters began to grow on me and I almost felt as though I was reading about real people with a bad problem that cannot be solved.  This book is frightening because this dilemma could actually happen is real life."

Mine Eyes Have Seen   by:  Ann Rinaldi 
Reviewer:  Paige L.

"This book was interesting because the reader gets to go the planning and events that led to the factual attack at Harpers Ferry.  I enjoyed the optimistic attitude of the narrator, Annie, and watching her walk through young adulthood.  My favorite parts were when she would make up stories to strangers.  She would also get a bit flustered when Mrs. Huffmaster would tell her about her psychic powers:  ‘Yer troubled.  Young girl like you, I figure it cain’t be anythin’ ‘ceptin yer trouble by somebody who passed on…’(page 62).  The book was interesting and amusing."

Gallows Hill   by:  Lois Duncan 
Reviewer:  Travis M.

"The book is a fast-paced story about a girl named Sarah.  She is accused of being a witch.  The book was a great horror story.  It is not a scary horror story, but it gives a few disturbing things.  Lois Duncan describes the characters so that is possible to visualize them.  The writing brings the characters alive.  It is almost as if they are familiar people."

On the Occasion of My Last Afternoon   by:  Kaye Gibbons 
Reviewer:  Jessica C.

"On the Occasion of My Last Afternoon, is a historical novel, in which the main character, Emma Garnet, struggles with loss and her ever-present father.  The experiences in the novel were not only moving, but also inspiring.  Emma Garnet lived a life of comfort, but she was always willing to open her heart and home to those in need, a trait that is in its self wonderful."

The Longest Memory   by:  Fred D’ Aguiar 
Reviewer:  Crystal K.

"I would recommend this book to anyone.  The author shows a great example of how life was for slaves and their masters.  The one thing that is great about this book is that it is told from ten different perspectives.  The author shows that he really understands the time frame and makes it feel like the story was completely true.  When I read this story, I could actually picture what was happening.  This book is the greatest book I have read for a long time."

Coast Road   by:  Barbara Delinsky 
Reviewer:  Jaclyn H.

  "Coast Road, is a wonderful novel about friends, family, and love.  Jack McGill and Rachel Keats were once married, have two children, and are both artists.  Jack is so consumed with his work he doesn’t notice Rachel needs him.  Rachel walks out on Jack and starts a new life.  Six years later, Rachel gets into a car wreck and is in a coma.  Jack ends up staying with his 13 and 15 year old daughters and meets his ex-wife’s friends.  He learns why his marriage fell apart and is willing to change.  The only problem is, will Rachel wake up so Jack can tell her he still loves her."

Tears of a Tiger   by:  Sharon M. Draper 
Reviewer:  Darren P.

"Tears of a Tiger by Sharon M. Draper is a stunning novel, full of moral and immoral decisions.  The novel shows the depression of a young man who has just watched his best friend die.  While the story is fiction it also posses many decisions people are faced with every day.  While reading this book you start to form your own opinions about what Andy is thinking.  The best part of the novel is that you feel like you are a part of Andy’s life and that you will be affected by the decisions he makes."

Computer One   by:  Warwick Collins 
Reviewer:  Bryan S.

"In general, this book was very good; however, it did have some downsides.  The plot seemed unusually slow, and while it was very interesting, it took awhile to get through the developments.  The author spends an awful lot of time describing the thoughts of the main character, Yakuda.  The story has a unique theme, however, and compels the reader to find out what is going to happen, even though it takes a while to get there.  It is very interesting and makes you really think about how realistic it could be.  I especially like the part where they have to find a way to defeat Computer One by taking the offensive.  It seems so unlikely that they will be able to defeat the massive computer, the story makes you wonder how they will be able to fight it.  If you wonder how things might be in the future, and the danger of the earth being destroyed by technology, this is the book for you to read."

Invasion   by:  Robin Cook 
Reviewer:  Jon-Michael S.

"The story begins when Beau discovers a mysterious rock, very shinny and smooth.  Beau and his friends examine the rock very carefully until suddenly, Beau is stung by the rock.  Out of pure reflex, Beau drops the rock.  Quickly, he makes an excuse to his friends the he was cut by the rock, and he drives away.  Shortly after, Beau starts to feel nauseous, dizzy, and shortness of breath.  Soon many others shall feel the same.    I think Invasion is a really good book.  It has a lot of suspense, keeping you on your toes, anxiously waiting to find out more.  Robin Cook does a great job reaching the climax of the story.  He wonderfully describes everyone effected by the rock, and descriptively explains how the character feels afterward."

The First Horeman   by:  John Case 
Reviewer:  Stephen C.

"A rare disease breaks out in a small town in the mountains of North Korea.  Doctor from the army come and declare the ‘Spanish Lady" was responsible and destroy the city.  A reporter from the Post proceeds to investigate the story and the virus.  I think John Case did a great job with this book.  He keeps you on the edge of your seat with surprising plots and views from both sides of the book (good guys and bad guys).  You never quite come close enough to figure out the end, and if you think you did, there’s a surprise.  John Case does a great job describing characters and painting vivid pictures in you mind.  I disagree with his word choice at times, but overall he does a great job giving the characters a voice.  This was a great book that will keep you interested and thinking."

Bull Catcher   by:  Alden R. Carter 
Reviewer:  Kyle F.

"A high school baseball player, Neil, talks about his life playing baseball with his best friend.  Neil and Jeff didn’t change sports when the season changed like most other kids, they practiced and played for the joy of it.  Through the entire book, Neil is reminiscing about his high school years playing baseball.  I would recommend this book to any sports fan, especially any baseball fan who likes to read a good sports book."

No Place of Safety   by:  Robert Barnard 
Reviewer:  Ruby Y.

"Ben has had a history of breaking hearts.  He has fathered three children from three different women.  Ben bought two houses side-by-side, and set them up as a homeless refuge.  He wanted to set up a refuge because there was a possibility of his kids showing up at his doorstep.  Both Alan and Katy eventually went to the refuge.  Not because they were homeless, but because they wanted to get away from their problems.  Mehjabean Haldalwa came to the door one day and refused to return home.  Ben and Mehjabean were having a discussion one night in the kitchen when they were attacked.  Both of them were sent to the emergency room. No Place of Safety is a book I would recommend for individuals who like reading mystery fiction."
 

Rule of the Bone   by:  Russell Banks
Reviewer:  Eric N.

The realistic fiction story Rule of the Bone tells of a boy’s problem with his family and an inner struggle with himself.  Chappie, a troubled teenager, gets into drinking and drugs and eventually drops out of school.  After he drops out, his parents kick him out of the house.  Chappie settles down alone in an abandoned bus.  There he meets Iman, an immigrant from Jamaica.  In the following months Iman will take Chappie on an adventure to Jamaica.  There he will find out about true friendship and what life is all about.  Banks does a good job of connecting with the teenaged reader.  By using first person we see exactly what Chappie is thinking.  I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt different or outcast and wanted to escape."

The Runaway   by:  Terry Kay
Reviewer:  Jesica C.

"This novel is an exciting, creative story.  I love how the author of The Runaway, Terry Kay, re-creates the life in the South after the World War II.  He involves the friendship of two boys on a runaway journey.  Terry Kay described the characters and background so well that I felt like I was in the novel."

Vertical Run   by:  Joseph R. Garber 
Reviewer:  Joe N.

"Vertical Run is an adventure novel that describes David Elliot’s adventurous day at work in a 50-story building.  After taking a shower in his private bathroom in his office, he sees that his boss, Bernie Levy, is standing right behind him holding a gun.  After escaping his boss, he runs down the hall to get help when he sees two men who also pull out guns and shoot at Dave.  John Ransome, the assassin’s leader, tells David that he cannot escape because there are men on the main floor covering every exit. The novel by Joseph R. Garber made me keep on reading in suspense.  Every part of the story kept building and building to the climax.  I would recommend this novel to anyone that likes a good adventure."

Don’t Die, My Love   by:  Lurlene McDaniel 
Reviewer:  Lisa K.

"The young adult novel, Don’t Die, My Love, by Lurlene McDaniel is a tragic love story.  Luke and Julie are the perfect couple…Life could not be better; Luke is the star quarterback, and he and Julie are in love.  All is well, until one day Julie takes Luke to the Doctor.  He had not been feeling well.  What they thought was the flu turned out to be life threatening cancer.  I believe this author put her heart and soul into writing this novel.  It affected me tremendously.  I was so into the story that I could hardly put it down."
Moonfall  by: Jack McDevitt 
Reviewer:  Aaron L.

 
 

This page was last modified March 10, 2003.

Maize High School Library 11600 W. 45th Street N. Maize, KS  67101 Margie Eaton, Librarian meaton@usd266.com